These chatty marine mammals have multiple methods of communication
The two main methods dolphins use to communicate are clicking and whistling, with whistles being heard up to 12.4 miles away through the ocean. Whistling noises are made in different patterns and frequencies to speak with other dolphins, while clicking is used for echolocation. Echolocation is the method of releasing sound waves into the surrounding water in order to hunt for food and visualise the objects moving around them. The sound waves bounce off nearby objects and return to the dolphin’s head. Their brain then converts the returning sound waves into the shapes and distances of objects in the murky water, including threats, potential food and obstacles.
Scientists are trying to work out more about the meanings behind specific whistle patterns, as this would enable humans to listen to and understand the dolphin world much more intricately. However, it’s thought that dolphins communicate in a very different manner to humans, and thus their speech shouldn’t be deciphered using typical human language patterns.
Studies have shown that when a dolphin appears to be in distress, it will produce its signature whistle at a loud volume so that those in its group, also called a pod, can assist. When one dolphin whistles, another usually acknowledges what has been communicated by whistling back, or in some cases by swimming over towards the whistling dolphin. It’s also quite common for a mother and calf to continuously whistle when they become separated until they’re reunited.
